Trips

On this 7-mile paddling route, you'll tour the inner reaches of Chesapeake Bay, passing riverbanks and wooded wetlands with picturesque trails.

This 4-mile loop circles the city's most prominent ridge, visits a 1661 hideout, and rewards a light effort with dramatic views of New Haven Harbor.

Check out the largest patch of alpine tundra in Vermont on this 4.8-mile out-and-back to the highest mountain in the state.

If you like the sound of raging whitewater, this less-traveled 6.4-mile route offers plenty of acoustical inspiration and scenic Potomac River views.

With its forested route and views of a stunning lake ringed by peaks, this 8.6-miler is a first-rate snapshot of the gorgeous Sawtooth Wilderness.

Watch waves crash and boom, migrating gray whales spout, and huge spruces sway on a 5-mile out-and-back to an incredible oceanside overlook.

This 6.8-mile day or overnight is part Northwest forest and part desert, highlighted by a host of birds and cliffs rising above a rushing creek.

This 3.9-mile loop provides a quick escape from the city, offering miles of sandy shoreline, wooded trails, and magnificent vistas.

During this 8.4-mile hike, you'll see lush moss, forest wildflowers, rushing rivers, and roaring waterfalls on your way to a low-elevation lake.

Take a weekend for this 21.8-miler, which features a stout 3,000-foot climb up into the foothills and mountains of the San Rafael Wilderness.

Over the course of 6 miles, you'll see wild horses, tag a summit with stellar desert views, and, if you're up for it, return via an off-trail route.

This 9.8-miler reveals the hard-knock life of the West--an old cowboy camp with jailhouse. Also, check out the rare shrimp in seasonal pools.

Get to know the Mountains-to-Sea Trail while spiking your adrenaline on this 4.8-mile dayhike among the tallest mountains east of the Mississippi.

Take a day or a three-day weekend for a challenging 20.2-mile climb to the roof of the Lower 48, and see why Muir called it a paradise of rock and light.

Dotted with place names like Crooked Dog Gap and Rough Creek, this 15.5-mile route mixes rugged ridgeline climbs and quiet riverside campsites.

Tag the two highest peaks in South Carolina on this 17.2-mile out-and-back with overlooks, waterfalls, and a homestead crumbled by weather and time.

Go 5 or 10 miles on this dayhike, which features skyline views of migrating hawks, the Shenandoah River Valley, and nearby towns.

This 12-miler hits the best of Bays Mountain Park: waterfalls, high ridges with fire-tower views, a lake, and lush forests frequented by deer.

Spend some quality time down by a shady river pinched between two mountain ranges on this 7-mile out-and-back in Ouachita National Forest.

Hike 4.9 miles into wooded pockets colored with summer wildflowers along the hills of Paint Creek, where white-tailed deer congregate at sunset.

On this 6.8-mile loop, you'll find reclaimed prairies, sacred Indian grounds, and scenic overlooks of the lakes and rivers surrounding St. Louis.

A convenient city escape along the St. Croix River, this easy 4-mile hike in Wild River State Park skirts healthy wetlands with prime waterfowl viewing.

Not even Dorothy would recognize the Flint Hills, where the prairie breaks from its flat-as-a-pancake routine on this 4.6-miler to photogenic outcrops.

A stunning new 80-mile hike in the Rockies' top spot for big backpacking adventures.

Dayhike 5 to 15 miles through the golden hills above the city. The longer haul leads to a peak with fine views of the Sandias.

Just a short bus ride from downtown, this 5.1-mile dayhike climbs loops around the panoramic ridgelines of Indian Mountain.

Take the city's light rail to this 4-mile lollipop loop and a high point above the Great Salt Lake and Wasatch foothills.

Leave your car at home: To explore Continental Divide country, you only need a bus ticket and your bike.

Ride Amtrak to Glacier's back door, then hike this 19.7-miler past glacial lakes and cascades and over two gorgeous passes.

Hit this 15-mile out-and-back on the Appalachian Trail via train and bus for sprawling views and Massachusetts' high point.

Hop off the bus for a 12.6-miler through red-maple swamps and old-growth forest filled with deer, grouse, and turkeys.

This 10-mile out-and-back climbs a summit with far-reaching views and ends at a rustic Appalachian Trail shelter.

Deep within Manhattan's famed 843-acre greenspace, this 4.1-mile escape offers a quick break from the daily grind.

Don't miss the wildflower show--it's easy to catch a city bus to the start of a 4.2-mile stroll in Tryon Creek State Park.

Skip the tourist spots and take the bus to Greenbelt Park for a 5.4-mile loop through a quiet, leafy urban forest.

This mostly forested loop climbs 1,250 feet to three misty waterfalls and dynamite views of the Olympic Mountains.

This multiday paddle tours a small island, scenic coves, and tops things off with a 4.8-mile hike to a lake in Larrabee State Park.

Your choice: Hike or paddle through a giant wetland refuge with two lakes, more than 100 bird species, and a host of native trees, including century-old Oregon ashes.

Ride a bus to a 2.3-mile tour of Guilford Courthouse, scene of a turning-point battle in the American Revolution.

Wooded lakeshores. Civil War hotspots. A giant granite mountain. This 7.4-mile hike tops out with peerless views of rolling green Piedmont from the summit of an open dome east of Atlanta.

This figure-8 connects two parks on its 3.7-mile course under hardwood canopies and past a mini-wetland teeming with life.

Hop a train for a weekend on Blue Ridge trails near the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Waterfalls, swimming holes, and shady lunch spots highlight this 10.4-miler, just a short bus ride from downtown.

Need an after-work escape? Minutes from the capital are 5.7 miles of tranquil trails along the Potomac River and C&O Canal.

Take a bus to the start of this 6.2-mile stroll through Fort Harrison State Park's secluded woods and creek-split hills.

Catch the light rail to this loop to see the confluence of two rivers and circle a lush island in the heart of the Twin Cities.

Ride the bus to the rugged hills of Mission Trails Park and bag the city's high point on a 3-mile out-and-back.

Introduce the kids to mass transit, then hike to President Grant's Farm (zebras, horses) on this gentle 6.4-miler.

Take the Metro to this 4.8-mile loop, then soak up sunny ocean views from the foothills of Will Rogers State Park.

Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area features a best-in-class overlook of the bustling city and the Arkansas River.

Climb 4,800 feet on this classic 15.7-mile route to the top of the park’s most-iconic peak towering above the Valley floor.

Set a weekend aside for this challenging 19.7-mile lasso loop (with numerous campsites) that connects two pinched gorges with suspended bridges.

The views on this 5.9-miler are so grand that this parkland was once proposed as the summer grounds for a second presidential White House.

This 16.1-mile dayhike links a string of alpine lakes, then hits a summit high above glacier-sculpted landscapes in the Many Glacier region.

You'll climb nearly 1,300 feet and bag two neighboring peaks by the end of this 7.1-mile lasso loop in Phoenix Mountains Preserve.

Pack your swimsuit for this 5.4-mile round-trip canyon hike leading to a series of steaming, turquoise-blue hot pools and a cascading waterfall.

Travel the rugged spines of Franconia and Kinsman Ridges on this 13.8-miler that offers five summits, numerous campsites, and unrivaled views.

This 10.3-mile dayhike traverses the rugged topography of Mt. Desert Island, leading to a broad summit high above an island-speckled sea.

Check off two 4,000-footers and walk the nation's oldest continuously maintained trail on this 7.4-mile horseshoe route in the rugged Presidential Range.

To enjoy the stretched-out ridgeline views on this 10-mile out-and-back, you'll first have to navigate an interesting hand-over-foot scramble.

Brilliant fall colors, sparkling waterfalls, and a mountaintop lookout tower highlight this scenic 5.2-mile dayhike in Ascutney State Park.

Hike 6.5 miles on a lesser-traveled trail on the forested side of Paul Peak to the Wonderland Trail, then down to the banks of the Mowich River.

This 11.6-miler crosses the Snake River, then heads downstream through a magnificent desert canyon known for its raptors and hidden rock art.

Loop under old-growth firs, by widespread vistas above the Columbia River, and past several photoworthy waterfalls on this exciting 2.1-mile dayhike.

Pack light: This strenuous dayhike gains 3,000 feet in less than 3 miles, and offers in-your-face mountain views in Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

This 8.6-mile out-and-back is packed with attractions: roaring waterfalls, an alpine lake, and mountain views so awesome you'll go trigger-happy with the camera.

The views over SoCal and the Pacific keep getting better and better during this 2,000-foot climb to the Main Divide of the Santa Ana Mountains.

On this 7.5-miler, you'll roam the geologically rich Red Rock Canyon, where bighorn sheep wander through desert gardens and piñon-juniper forests.

A lakeside campsite awaits at the end of this 4.2-miler that passes old-growth cedars, a mining camp, and meadows splashed with wildflowers.

Jack up your heart rate on this 6.4-mile out-and-back past giant boulders to a sun-baked peak with incredible ocean-to-mountain views.

Explore the hilly side of southeast Wisconsin on this 4.4-mile loop through the pines and hardwoods of Kettle Moraine State Forest.

On this easy 6-mile loop, you'll cross Eagle Creek Reservoir on a scenic causeway, wander lovely woods, and catch views from a waterfront lookout.

Explore ridges, evergreen forests, and odd rock formations on this 4.3-mile dayhike through the smallest wilderness in Shawnee National Forest.

Start from a tilted sandstone cliff on a mostly forested and lesser-traveled 9.9-mile loop in Beech Creek National Scenic and Botanical Area.

This 4.6-mile loop gets two thumbs up for its rushing cascades, sweet campsites, and two fine viewpoints overlooking Pisgah National Forest.

Head to the dark hills of Black Rock Mountain State Park for a 6.3-mile loop along soothing mountain streams to lookouts with classic Appalachian views.

Float under a peregrine falcon nest and paddle past several islands to the Tennessee River on this 4.5-mile trip through the heart of downtown.

Waterfall aficionados: This challenging 5.2-mile route traces a tumbling creek, then passes under an old-growth forest to one of the park's highest cascades.

Twist through a sandstone gorge with a handful of waterfalls on this 7.8-miler topping out at a tabletop overlook above Jefferson National Forest.

Tackle the highest point in Arkansas on this 20-mile out-and-back that draws all sorts of outdoor enthusiasts—hikers, climbers, even hang gliders.